On the 29th Soult stormed Oporto. A scene of readful carnage ensued after the assault. The avalry charged through the streets, slaughtering he inhabitants without regard to age, or sex. Terrified by the sight of such horrors, the people ded in crowds to the bridge, but there they were met by showers of grape and musketry. Some tried to cross in boats, but were fired on; 3,000 citizens were here either drowned or shot. The slaughter would have been greater, had not Soult exerted himself to end the savage cruelty of his soldiers,

But Oporto was to be the limits of Soult's conquests. Behind him Romana, who had rallied his constantly-increasing army, found Ney full employment; and Silveira was still master of Tras os Montes. In the south Victor could not invade Alentejo till he should have defeated Cuesta and the Estramaduran army; and Lapisse could not make himself master of Cuidad Rodrigo, which was defended chiefly by Sir Robert Wilson with his Lusitanian legion.

The plan first adopted by Sir R. Wilson of improving the Portuguese soldiers by placing over them British officers, worked so well, and was so much approved of by the authorities, that the Prince of Brazil sent General Beresford a commission as Field-Marshal and Generalissimo of the Portuguese army. Some reinforcements also had arrived from England; and Sir J. Cradock, commander at Lisbon, had under him about 14,000 men. Colonel Trant also commanded a promiscuous body of Portuguese troops at Coimbra. All these considerations deterred Soult from advancing further unsupported.

CHAPTER VIII.

Sir Arthur Wellesley appointed Commander in PortugalHis plans-Passage of the Douro-Soult's Situation-Obstacles in Sir A. Wellesley's way-Jourdan's advanceBattle of Talavera-Effects of the Victory-DifficultiesSir Arthur Wellesley proceeds to Badajos-Preparations for the defence of Portugal.

SUCH was the state of affairs when Sir Arthur Wellesley, invested with the supreme command in Portugal, arrived at Lisbon on the 22nd of April, 1809, that it seemed as though a complication of difficulties presented themselves, which only a mastermind could surmount. The patriot armies had sustained repeated defeats, and their undisciplined bravery could not cope with large masses of ex perienced and veteran troops: that deliverance which her own children had been unable to work out, was to be procured for the Peninsula by the genius and skilful arrangements of Britain's great military chief. His arrival constituted a new era in the war. His presiding authority gave unity of action and purpose to the British forces and those of their allies, and seemed to end the jealousies and divisions, which had weakened the strength, and paralyzed the efforts of the friends of freedom.

Believing that the numerical superiority of the French was neutralized by the separation of their corps, Sir Arthur Wellesley determined upon moving boldly against Soult at Oporto, satisfied that no communication could exist between his army an that of Victor. Wellesley's plan was, first, if pos sible, to free the north of Portugal, and then re turning to the Tagus as speedily as he could, to fa..

upon the army of Victor. In case this latter general should meditate an attack upon Lisbon, two British battalions, and two regiments of cavalry, with 8,000 Portuguese, were arranged along the right bank of the Tagus; possession was taken of the flying bridges of Abrantes and Villa Velha, and a body of troops posted at Alcantara, under Colonel Mayne, with orders to blow up the bridge there, should he be compelled to retreat in consequence of the French advancing. Cuesta was next informed of the British plan of operations, and requested to keep Victor in check, till the English returned from Oporto, when the two armies might combine, and act in concert to the south of the Tagus.

In pursuance of this able plan, the British army reached Coimbra on the 2nd of May, where the inhabitants greeted them with shouts, illuminations, and bonfires; Sir A. Wellesley in particular being hailed with great enthusiasm. Here the allied army was concentrated, and divided into seven brigades of the line; two of German infantry, one of guards, and one of light cavalry, including four battalions of Portuguese; besides 6,000 under Marshal Beresford. Meanwhile Soult was in difficulties; around him were enemies, in his own camp even were traitors. He was desirous of securing a retreat to Spain. Silveira occupied the bridge of Amarante, a strong position on the very road of the French; orders were given to Laborde and Loison to secure this at any price; the post was bravely maintained from the 18th to the 30th of April; during which time, the French were repulsed in daily attacks, and the Portuguese fought in the streets of Amarante, from behind the piles of dead bodies. Colonel Pa trick, a brave and skilful officer, was killed. On

the 2nd of May, Soult, who had come up in person, forced the position; having as he imagined thus secured his retreat, he returned to Oporto.

While General Beresford advanced from Coimbra, Sir Arthur proceeded to the Douro as quickly as possible, and gained it after a few skirmishes. He had determined to cross this river, and drive the enemy from Oporto at once. While therefore Generals Murray and Sherbrooke were detached to different ferries, Sir Arthur, with the main body, resolved to cross near the convent of Sarca which overlooked the town. At eight o'clock the British columns were assembled behind the heights on which this building stands. They lay on the ground with their arms ready. The Douro is here 300 yards broad, and flows with a rapid stream. "Let a boat be found," said Wellesley to his staff. Colonel Waters found a skiff which crossed from the city in the night, concealed at a bend in the river, behind some bushes; he persuaded some peasants that stood by to accompany him, and evading the French patroles, succeeded in bringing over three or four barges from the opposite shore. At ten o'clock Sir Arthur was informed that a boat was ready. "Well, let the men cross," was his brief order; an officer, and 25 soldiers of the Buffs, crossed over, and speedily took possession of an unoccupied building, called the seminary. Other boats were quickly despatched by the zeal of the people, and the embarkation went rapidly on.

General Paget was among the first; three companies were now over, but scarcely had the last of these reached the bank, when the drums and trumpets of the enemy sounded an alarm; troops hur ried out, and made a violent attack upon the small body of men opposed to them. They defended the

post with great gallantry, till they were strengthened by the 48th, 68th, and a Portuguese battalion. General Paget lost an arm, and General Hill, who assumed the command, was still maintaining a severe contest, when the brigade of guards and the 29th, appeared on the right of the French; and on their left troops were pressing from Aventas. The enemy's columns were driven back in confusion. The British charged up the streets, and made many prisoners. They were received by the inhabitants with great joy; handkerchiefs waved from the balconies and windows; and blessings were poured forth on their brave deliverers.

Had the English army been able to take advantage of the panic of the enemy, their retreating columns must have been almost cut to pieces; this unhappily could not be done, and the troops were so fatigued, that some period of repose was necessary. Still, however, the crossing of the Douro, in the face of a powerful enemy, was a bold and brilliant action, and one that added lustre to Wellesley's military fame. The action on his side, was comparatively bloodless, only 20 men being killed, and 95 wounded; the French had 500 killed and wounded; five guns were taken in the flight; a quantity of ammunition, and fifty guns were found in the arsenal. That night, Oporto was brilliantly illuminated, and the sounds of rejoicing were heard in its streets. Sir Arthur Wellesley's first act was to take measures for the protection of the prisoners from the fury of the Portuguese: a proclamation enjoining mercy to the French that might fall into their hands, was issued the very next morning. Sir Arthur took up his quarters in the house which had been occupied by the French general; and a dinner which had that day been prepared for Soult, was served un to him.